Lenten Season: A Journey, A Renewal...

We are once again in the season of journey and renewal of our faith and selves. Lent is the season that gives us grace of renewal and forgiveness. A time for personal journey to looking back to ourselves and renew our ties with God with whom we have neglected His love for sometime. A time of grace to forgive ourselves and heal the wounds of pride and selfishness. 

Take the journey to God's infinite love and mercy...

For many times we were stumbled by our human frailties and errors, Our Lord carries us in times of hopelessness and dimming faith. His ultimate sacrifice and death are constant reminder that He will accept our difficulties and hardships even at times we committed sins. The cross which He carried for us should be our cross that we must face everyday. For without the cross, we cannot truly attain the true glory of forgiveness and God's love for us...without death, our faith is meaningless that's why resurrection is very significant for the renewal of ourselves and rekindle once more the faith we are believing.

The celebration of the Paschal Mystery is the whole summary of God's endless love to mankind. Our Lord's passion, death and resurrection are not just commemoration to remember but a celebration of love to be shared to others. It's a journey of faith and renewal of ties that once again bind us to God's infinite mercy and compassion. A journey that we should take with full acceptance and willingness to be with God no matter what consequences, hurts, criticisms, etc. that we are bound to face. True Christian follower forget one's self and embraces every hardships and embarking a unique journey of renewal and acceptance.

Hopefully, as we observe and commemorate Christ's passion, death and resurrection...we
take the chance to reflect and pray. Take the journey on the road less traveled and be embraced once more to God's loving arms.

When Forgiveness Becomes The Key to Healing (A Post-New Year Personal Reflection)

Forgiveness is the key to healing...

The year 2013 was not that kind to me despite there are some good things happened to me but not entirely. I was bedridden for almost a year because of sickness I got from my recklessness. Hospital became a running point to me, our family finances slowly declining and some problems that my family is facing. I felt hopeless that it seemed God has not answered my prayers and instead of improving myself,  self-confidence was almost down and sometimes my faith to Him came into jeopardy. But still, my family and friends never gave up on me and everyday they tried to bring me back to life. Self-motivation was lacking from me. As the year came to close, I tried to motivate myself and reflect, think and pray again. There were moments I questioned God ‘Why me?’ but suddenly my dad came and talked to me heart-to-heart. For the past years, I had rifts and misunderstanding with my parents especially with my dad, I was so very unforgiving and my pride truly hurt me so much but my dad was still there to me to understand, to love and care for me and a strong support despite being a hard-headed son. Suddenly I came to realization all the wrongdoings and hurt I have caused pain to him. I gradually realized my mistakes and dawned upon me that my attitude will not get into nowhere.

Sometime in the year 2013’s last quarter, I lowered my pride and humbly talked to my father. I opened myself and felt so ashamed of myself. My dad told me that he understood what I have gone through and told me all the things that I have never heard from him: all the pain and problems he’s facing. He is not a ‘Superman’in the sense because like any other father, he has shortcomings though he was trying to fill our needs and be there for us siblings. I uttered things that I have never spoken to my father until I came to the point of forgiving myself and forgiving my father.

Forgiveness came gradually to me because I realized that if I can’t forgive myself first I won’t be able to attain healing of my spirit, mind and heart. From then on, I tried to digest every advice he gave me and understood him. That is for the good of myself and for healing that I was praying to God. And as the year came to close, I made a simple resolution for myself: to forgive, to understand and to add more patience.

As the year 2014 has begun…forgiveness becomes my target. Kung wala akong pagpapatawad sa sarili ko, walang himala ang mangyayari at mahihirapan akong magpatawad sa iba. Kung aking babaan ang aking pagiging maka-sarili, unti-unti kong madadama ang kagalingan ng aking kaluluwa at paghilom ng puso kong nasugatan and as Our Lord beautifully puts forgiveness into prayer: “Forgive our sins as we forgive those who sinned against us..(Matthew 6:12). 

I really thank the Lord that I still celebrated Christmas and New Year with my family. This is such a big miracle for me that I longed waited! I praise and thank God for this! Now, I looked forward with much hope, still recuperating my health that was deteriorated, and seeking spiritual healing. With my whole family as my strong support I will not fear anymore. My faith to God is coming to spring time again after that misty winter of my life, to change my views in life and to become healthier. There will still be shortcomings that I will face but with all the best and faith restored to Him, He will strengthens me... "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!" (Philippians 4:13). I hope this short post-reflection I made somehow helped you realize to love your family and friends more than you can do despite their shortcomings and love God the Almighty, the Life-giver and serve Him with much willingness. I wish everyone a Blessed, Prosperous and Happy New Year to all!

Reflection, Prayer and Action

These past few days I have been watching and listening to some news of devastation brought by climate changes in the world and its impact on mankind most especially our beloved country was not spared by typhoons, earthquakes and man-made calamities.  It was so sad to realize how the world is undergoing nowadays due to our recklessness and of course by nature’s wrath. Every news on television and radio of deaths and destruction brought me tears in my eyes and hoping and praying that these calamities should cease for a while. But believe it or not, it was part of God’s divine plan although He doesn’t want to punish us but rather get a lesson from these tragedies that we have experienced. Some of us may blame God ‘why us?’ but did we sometimes utter ‘why not?’ This is a great lesson that God wants to impart to us. God is not a god of punishment but a God of love, of compassion and that gives another chance that allows us to endure these painful moments of our life to live and love Him again, to look onto ourselves once more and see where we are lacking thereof.

The violence and clash in Zamboanga, the strong southwest monsoon in Luzon, the earthquake in Cebu and Bohol and the strong typhoon that hit Leyte and Samar are something to reflect most especially this coming Christmas season. Are we all ready to receive Him again with all our heart? Or are we just busy preparing more on materialistic preparations by buying gifts and food for personal consumption rather spiritual and more meaningful preparations to welcome Him in our hearts? There are so many pointers that we can learn from the following tragedies: it’s an invitation to reflect, to pray and to take action.

To Reflect.  Have you tried to quiet yourself for a while especially on morning when you wake up and evening before you sleep? This is something where we sometimes neglect to do so because we are so occupied by so many things in life and sometimes too worried on what will happen the next day. We are so worried about today and tomorrow about what we’re going to do in order to satisfy our urges and 'caprichos’. Don’t get me wrong but there’s nothing wrong of thinking about all ourselves but this is just a reminder for us to look for a moment of how well we did for a day. Reflection helps us to turn back and make a brief review and looking what went during the course of our day. A moment to look back at the areas that we need to improve, to reject, to revive and to continue whatever good works we did. I remember during my seminary days, we are required to have at least an Examen of Conscience on daytime and evening. This gives us opportunity to take a look the day we have gone through. So far, how we manage to handle some things that need our attention and to keep on improving on our personalities. Reflection is an invitation and an opportunity to briefly turn ourselves for a moment in quiet disposition.

To Pray. At the end of doing reflection,we pray on something that re-energize our spirit. Prayer often times lack in our lives and just believing more on our personal intuition without the divine assistance from above. Prayer helps us to recover from the pain we felt, the joy outpouring from our heart and a profound thanksgiving to God that He has given us another day to live by. Let the grace of God flows into our hearts with much gratitude and a promise to make each day dedicated to Him and its glory that it will bring. Prayer is a good avenue for this. The most effective communication we can do in order to inform God of how grateful we are, of how painful we felt in a day and how hopeful we are for the coming days. A simple prayer of ‘Thank you God’, ‘Bless us this day O God’ and ‘Forgive all my shortcomings O Lord’ are enough words to begin and end our day for peace of mind and our hearts to be blessed. Our training in the seminary is full of prayer activities and we are formed through prayer that gave strong conviction to continue our vocation to serve with others and God above all. And with prayer, you can never go wrong most especially in times of agony and despair. Prayer is the most important thing that I learned when I was a seminarian. That’s why each day I won’t forget to utter a prayer to God for giving me another chance to live, to love and to let go of things that are unnecessary for my life’s growth.

To Take Action. Reflection and prayer are not the final bus stop. Each reflection and prayer invite us to take action on what we reflect and pray because it will manifest everything we say. What better action that we can take? Planning is also necessary…you will not go on throughout the day without any plan of actions but there’s something that need to accomplish not just for one’s self but for others as well. Doing good deeds for others is a better form of doing to take action of our reflection and prayer come into realization. We don’t stop on blue print alone but to work hard on it. Our action is the fruit of reflection and prayer. What can be more meaningful is to do it right away without hesitations in our part. This is again a golden opportunity to redeem and fill what we have lost from the past. Every good news of donations and kindness that I am hearing and watching from television for calamity victims bring so much joy in the heart especially that we are doing the real Christmas spirit of real sharing and kindness for others. God blessed those who cheerfully give and doesn’t count the cost. Christmas is coming again and to become more meaningful season, take action right away! Each kindness we show will have a reward from heaven in stored for us. As from the Letter of James beautifully pointed ‘Faith without action is dead’ (James 2:14).

This reflection that I shared is the fruit of the past few days that I have learned.I was so inspired by the resiliency of our spirit to keep on fighting despite the odds that we are facing. At the same time, I am so happy to impart to you this simple reflection and as I end this piece of inspiration, it may serve something worthwhile to read and realize.  I hope it will help us to prepare us for the joyful season ahead of us. Remember, the true spirit of Christmas is sharing and kindness. Do also your part! Reflect, Pray and Take Action!

Moments That Make Me Smile

Smiling Face

I love to smile! Have you heard that smiling flexes thousands of muscles in your face to prevent you to look old? Smiling doesn't only helps you stay young but it also it greets and brighthens another person even if it looks like 'ngiting aso'. We smile not only because to show our pearly white teeth to others but a sign that we are happy to see the person again. Speaking about smiling...'smiling face' became my trademark ever since I was a child because my friends and classmates noticed that I seems to be smiling all the time even there's nothing to smile of. There was an instance that a teacher of mine in high school misinterpreted me while venting her anger in our class because we were noisy. She got mad at me because it seemed that I was smiling but the truth is I wasn't smiling. Too late for my excuses and I just ignored her misinterpretations and covered my mouth instead. But there's an advantage of having a 'smiling face'...I bagged the Most Polite Student. See how good to smile can be?

Choose Life

When I was in first year college philosophy, we had our school year-end retreat in the seminary, a certain nun in her old age which happened to be our retreat facilitator, kept on repeating 'Choose life'. I can't even recount how many times she uttered those phrases. Perhaps that was her motto or favorite words? At first I understand that I definitely to choose life because I am still alive and breathing and I want to live longer. I guess I didn't understand what she really meant of 'choose life'. Along the retreat, I finally understood what she meant to 'choose life', not only because life is beautiful but to choose life is to choose always what's the best and good, to choose life is to choose wisely and appreciate life's beauty despite of trials and enjoy to the fullest that God's gift has given to us!

Finding What's Outside

When the first time I decided to leave the seminary, I decided to find a job that will suffice my family's everyday needs including myself. Just like others who would drag themselves to the limit just to get a job despite of small salary, work loads and pressures from supervisors, I myself had to be competitive and assertive to impress the interviewer. The experience of finding a right job is a painstaking process, it was not a piece of cake that I would eat right away but it was a difficult time of having a cake to bake and finding necessary ingredients.

This is what life outside the seminary. It's an everyday struggle. It's an everyday survival from the jungles of hustle and bustle of city's fast-paced changing lifestyle. Some former seminarians I know who are finding their luck outside maybe facing the same situation I had before. How did I survive? Three Ps: Persistence, Patience and Prayer.

Waiting Awaits Graces

Waiting awaits graces...

Today's reflection is very rich about our Sunday's Gospel (Lk.12:32-48) on the cost of waiting and doing our responsibility. Waiting for a certain person especially on long hours makes us very impatient and sometimes we would never mind to go ahead. Waiting makes us irritated and disappointed on a person we expect to come on an agreed time but he never did. Have you experienced all sorts of irritation and disappointment while waiting so long? Perhaps you might need to add more patience for this for which the servants in our today's gospel did well on waiting. The servants of the master did this with faithfulness and with prudence that their master will come although they do not know what time but still they wait and guard. They did not give up waiting for they know that their master will come even  though waiting for more hours or so and they kept on guard too.

The experience of waiting is truly excruciating and much more, instead of waiting, it is wasting some precious hours instead doing more productive work. The servants could went to bed that time but they kept vigil. They did not abandon what was their responsibility for their master and that to serve him whenever he comes though in an uncertain time. Are we also capable of doing this? Perhaps we might,  but nevertheless if it is a call of

responsibility and our duty to wait, why not? 

We take a look and observe what the bodyguard of a very important person is doing...waiting and guarding because that's the call of his duty is and the bodyguard is responsible to the safety of the person. Even our security guards in our company, school and other establishments are doing this too. When we wait, we don't see the real value of it but we mumble and complain, but waiting puts our patience to test and makes more valuable to us to gain wisdom. In patience we gain wisdom to be more responsible and vigilant to our work and thus it follows that patience gains everything. 

Our responsibility to wait is not something punishable likeof standing and sitting for a long time but there is wisdom behind this. And this wisdom makes us more wiser, faithful and prudent. We cannot reap the fruits that are not yet ripe on time unless it ripens on a particular day of harvest. To wait is also a responsibility to do what is necessary, pruning and gardening, keep guard and be vigilant, so on the day of harvest to come, we harvest blessings abundantly. We can learn from waiting, and from waiting we become more responsible person, a person with patience gains wisdom and a person becomes prudent knowing the right time that makes more blessings to harvest graces from God our master, so rich and abundant! 

Seeing, Believing and Faith

(Another text of my homily during Spiritual Pastoral Formation Year at Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, Quezon City)

Today’s Gospel speaks about believing. At times we have difficulty to believe on something that seems impossible to believe on but at the end, this belief strengthens and nourishes our faith. For quite sometime the disciples were puzzled by the words of Jesus has spoken about and now they understood what was Jesus’ mission and the imparting mission for them. We have heard this cliché ‘ to see is to believe’…what is really then to see in order for us to believe?Or what is then to believe if something is impossible to see? Perhaps, this is what the disciples’ objective was. So many times that Jesus have tested their faith in order for them to believe such as several miracles he performed yet the disciples doubted.

We have sometimes doubt something so unreal but yet in the end it has become a fundamental ground of believing. I too experienced several instances of having doubts and asking for evidences to suffice or satisfy my doubts. I remember back when I am still studying Philosophy in college seminary. We were formed and trained to reason out on certain arguments with philosophies of well-known philosopher lashing out each other’s opinions. Quoting from one philosopher to another, giving the best quotes and lines that amazes my classmates and professors and powerful style of delivery of words were necessary to win over an argument or debate. I would ask for evidences to prove an argument certain or just merely speculations and if my opponent couldn’t interpolate my argument then I believe I won my case. I was so proud that I can win in arguments with my reasoning ability. Awards and honors were given giving boost of confidence. There were some words of praises and encouragement coming from other people which sounded like bells in my ears, floating in the heavens as if I was so blessed to become the best in the class.

All of these were our training in college seminary but then, the intellect I gained was not enough to answer the deepest longing of my heart especially the challenge of vocation. God posed me a deeper question of what really do I believe to follow His ways and answer His call? Intellect then was not enough. No matter how I reason out but there’s still spaces that need to be filled and filtered with understanding and prayer. Not even books, encyclopedias, dictionary or Google or Yahoo Answers could fill the answer that my heart is trying to search.

In the second reading, we looked at Paul asking the disciples at Corinth if they received the Holy Spirit when they became believers but they were never heard of it. It is only through John’s baptism of repentance that they became believers. The Holy Spirit fills the heart with understanding and wisdom that sustains the faith. Repentance is not enough but with the understanding and wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Intellect may answer academic and specific questions but it cannot quench the thirst of the heart. And as I continue to search for answers of my heart’s longing it is through the understanding and wisdom of the Holy Spirit that is needed. It is not enough that I use my reason but the capacity to pray for the Holy Spirit to grant me understanding and wisdom truly enlighten the way to fulfill my heart’s longing for answers to several questions.No need to doubt. Just pure trust and whole lot of faith! A leap of faith is necessary! It is then the Holy Spirit provides the best evidence that there’s something to hold on and keep grounded on our faith. Ang matibay na sandigan ng ating pananamaplataya ay ang karunungan at pang unawa na nagbubuhat sa Banal na Espiritu.

The certain realization that the disciples drew from Jesus is the first step of the greater mission that they have to face. The first step is to believe and from this believing comes the gift of wisdom and understanding that soon that they will be receiving. Again, pure trust is necessary. Without solid trust,  believing is impossible to do. And as we await for this promise, we could only pray for guidance that may the Holy Spirit brings us to full understanding of our mission to one another.

Of Becoming Peacemakers...

(This is a full text of my homily during my tenure in Spiritual Pastoral Formation Year at Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, Quezon City)

We have heard the phrase ‘an eye for an eye and a t tooth for a tooth’ a phrase from an ancient code of Hammurabi, who reigned in Babylon four thousand years ago…a phrase that entails punishment specifically penalties of the same kind for the offender. It is giving due justice with an equal and same degree as the offender did, the principle of exact reciprocity is very clearly used. For example, if a person caused the death of another person, the killer would be put to death (Hammurabi's code, §230). Though not as so violent as Hammurabi’s code but this is sometimes our response to our offenders on a situation wherein a person greatly attacks another person either by physical or psychological means to destroy him completely. For some of us, the offense committed should be penalized with the same way as vengeful and as harsh as possible. I am not a fan of Pinoy action films but somehow you will be able to identify from this genre especially local ones the same principle or theme in the predictable storyline:  3 Vs: violence, vengeance and vindication. Ika nga ng namayapang actionstar sa kanyang pelikula : Masagasaan na ang dapat masagasaan pero kailanganpatas lang…walang personalan trabaho lang. Nothing personal but seems synonymous to the thinking’ I only did what is right and what is due.’

Discussions and negotiations are out of the question and what matter is to attain justice even to the point of no consideration of mercy and forgiveness. Is this genuine justice? Or are we just refining violence in the sense of giving the same degree of punishment to others because they have hurt our ego so bad and trample our personhood to the lowest? Is violence an answer to offence committed?

I have been in some squabbles and fights with a friend, classmate or a sibling in school or at home, and whenever someone hurts me so bad, I do the same thing for that person but at the end did I really attain justice for my personal satisfaction? Or Am I just being selfish just to meet my personal due? Well maybe there was satisfaction but considering also that I just made the situation so hard for me instead of lightening up. It did not help me to ease my revenge after all.  In a certain reality, it is difficult to be merciful to others especially on circumstances that totally minced our very being and reputation. But let us think if we answer violence in a different way, in a process which breaks the principles of vengeance and punishment?

Jesus has offered us quite remarkable ways that instead of resistance, openness; of retaliation, mercy-giving, and of revenge, forgiveness.  The call of attaining justice does not impound us to vengeance alone but to go beyond and answer the call of grace of mercy, compassion and forgiveness and that challenges us to be peacemakers as Christians should be. Jesus invites us to transform relationship in a deeper sense of human understanding and values, beyond physical vengeance, insults and injustice but the call of grace to treat others not as they deserve but as God wishes them to be treated with loving-kindness and mercy, be with our enemy or friends, foes, offenders and law abiding citizens. This is our call to be peacemakers, be an instrument of peace and builders of hope and mercy-provider,a unique call for every Christian in response to our God…a God who gives due justice, a God who knows no hatred but a loving and merciful God who looks at us despite our human transgressions and weaknesses and a God that is not a violent God but the God of mercy, compassion and forgiveness.

We challenge ourselves to this transforming relationship: resist any forms of violence and become more generous to the call of giving mercy, let others feel our compassion and forgive what they have done wrong to us, do greater deeds of transforming hatred into acceptance and willingly embrace the hardest thing to accept even it hurts us so badly.  Let us pray to God that He grants us these gifts and to set aside any of our personal hurts and pride, to be more open and understanding and selfless. Let us ask God the grace to open our hearts with prayerful and hopeful intentions to become peacemakers, hope-builders and mercy-givers.

As we continue the celebration of the Holy Eucharist let us utter the famous prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, and now becomes our reflection prayer to respond to the challenge:

“Lord, make me an instrument of

your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

To be consoled as to console;

To be understood as to understand;

To be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.”

Amen.

Beloved Santo Nino

The famous Santo Nino de Cebu

January marks the start of fiestas here in the Philippines. Aside from celebrating New Year, January also the date of several well-known feasts of the Filipinos that include
the feast of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila and the well-loved Santo Nino. Perhaps
the famous image of the child Jesus has been venerated nationwide and most of the
towns here in the Philippines have patron which is the Santo Nino. Famous are in Tondo and Cebu.

The image is being venerated by most adults and young ones alike...it depicts the
playful and innocent youth of Jesus. The image is being processioned with a parade of
loud drums and beating to the tune of ethnic dance or even modern ones. People dance and sway as the Santo Nino is being tossed and sway. The feast of the Santo Nino is a festive occassion where children marches in glee.

Truly, the feast of the Santo Nino gives more color to our Filipino culture and we can
joyfully celebrate our faith by this kind of veneration.

Celebrate 2013

Another year has just began...we celebrate 2013! 

We thank God for all the blessings we received from the past years and we are praying

for the best to come in 2013. Amidst of trials and challenges, we firmly hold on to

God's divine hands for us to meet up these challenges.

I wish you all A BLESSED NEW YEAR!!! May this year brings hope for us!

San Pedro Calungsod: Second Filipino Saint

The universal Catholic Church rejoices as we witness enthusiastically the canonization 

of seven martyrs including our very own Blessed Pedro Calungsod. 

Young Filipino saint...

Blessed Pedro Calungsod is a migrant, catechist, sacristan and a missionary companion of Blessed Father Diego Luis de San Vitores, a Jesuit priest. On 1672, they begun their missionary work in the island of Guam where many natives were converted into Roman Catholic. Pedro was born as a Cebuano. He joined the Jesuits for missionary work in different places including Guam. He taught catechism to the natives using the 'Docrina Cristiana'. Calungsod and Fr. Diego came to Tumhon (part of Guam) for their missionary work but the leader of the tribe refuse to be converted including his family but Fr. Diego succeeded in baptizing the young child of the tribal leader and when he heard this, he attacked both Calungsod and Fr. Diego where they met their martyrdom. Calungsod was killed by a spear that struck his chest when he tried to protect Fr. Diego. Their bodies were thrown to the sea.

The martyrdom they received have elevated them into defenders of our faith thus they were beatified. Calungsod was beatified on March 2000 and now after 12 years, He will be canonized as saint and a martyr of faith. He is the second Filipino saint and martyr joining San Lorenzo Ruiz. As we rejoice on the day of his canonization, we  pray that many young men will inspire by the life that Calungsod led and be able to response to the call of our church to become missionaries of good tidings.

San Pedro Calungsod...pray for us!

Reading the Chapters of Our Life...

I cannot recount anymore how many times did I start a new direction in my life. 
But definitely I am sure that each end of a chapter is a start of a new sequence, full of
mysteries yet challenging, nervous yet thrilling and worried yet excited. Each pages of our lives should be a must-read for everyone to know us better but then again not all can be exciting or fascinating and sometimes we skip a certain paragraph that we find not worth-reading. But this is part of the story...part of the sequences that life should be. We cannot skip something not interesting to read because it is also part of the whole story and if ever we skip reading then the whole story is meaningless.

The story of your life is the good news that you can impart to the world. We are the writers of our lives and at the same time storytellers. It is up to us to make it worth-reading for others. The plots and sequences should not be necessary dramatic but to let it flow with what the circumstances bring to you. We don't make stories of unbelief but only pure experience coming to the point of view of your life's situation. A real story comes from the heart that has been through life's experiences. Again, make your life worth-reading!

At the end of our story, the book of our life has finally been reviewed by the ultimate author of life itself...God gives the final review.

Holy Week of Traditions, Sacrifice and Moving Forward...

We have entered into the Holy Week once again. The time of the year when everyone observed the holiest week of the year. For some, a time to break away  from the worldly occupation and do a self-pilgrimage. For others, it is a time of vacation and fun, forgetting the hustle and bustle of city life. But what really is Holy Week?

Personally, this is the time of the year that I am looking forward. A time when I take an opportunity to be still, pause and reflect. Each year's Holy Week is spend with family and friends which I look forward to share again a meaningful celebration of Holy Week. But as time passes by, something's changing and even traditions are soon wearing. We still keep the spirit of the Holy Week, there are traditions that are still being done and observed like the 'Pabasa' (Passion chants), 'Senakulo' (depiction of Christ's passion), Visita Iglesia and among others which has become a lenten practice. Old and young are participants of this solemn occasion which has become a yearly 'panata' or promise of sacrifice. We are fortunate indeed that our country is rich with lenten traditions and practices but no matter how we keep the beauty of lent but if not being rooted to our faith and teachings of the Church...it would be meaningless for our growth in faith. 

Traditions and teachings of the Church should not be treated as separate entities but factors that bind us to appreciate and understand our faith even better. Traditions keep the beauty of practices while the teachings or doctrines guide us to the very essence of sacrifice and death of Christ. These two should work in harmony for our spirituality development and should not become an hindering factors to debate and become the source of confusion and separation.

Moreover, the true meaning of the Holy Week means a true contrition and self-rediscovery and renewing our relationship with Christ. For Our Lord Jesus Christ has given up his life making an ultimate and greatest love for mankind. A true contrition of the heart is rooted in Christ's message of forgiveness and sacrifice for others, for without it, our celebration of Holy Week is meaningless and our Easter would be forever an empty tomb.

A Blessed Holy Week to everyone and a Joyful Easter to come!

Walk In Simplicity

I was heading home in the morning coming from a grocery store in our town when I decided to walk than to take a jeepney. While walking, a tricycle passed me by and honked me. The tricycle driver was our neighbor and he chided me, 'Why are you walking? You could take a ride or even use your dad's car!' in return I said to him 'No, thanks anyway.' then away I go with walking. 

Thinking about what happened in that morning has suddenly gave me a bit of reflection of simplicity. It is not that I don't want to take a ride or use my dad's car but it's a matter of taking that option to walk is convenience for me. I didn't decline but instead I chose what is simple thing to do and that is to walk. I have been walking for several times, from our house to the church, to school or to our town plaza and elsewhere. But of course, If I do want to go to far places I would be using a car. It gives me a certain joy of appreciating my surroundings and at the same time, meeting and seeing people in my neighborhood. The opportunity to meet and greet them is simple joy that i could experience and perhaps an opportunity also to get to know my place and its people even better. Aside from that, it is good for the health!

I remember the story of then Fr. Chito Tagle and now Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle of the Archdiocese of Manila whenever he gives a talk or seminar, he would prefer walking than taking transportation in his parish. That alone can give him a time to get to know better his parishioners. I admire his simplicity and picking his examples as my model of simplicity. He is now an archbishop of Manila, full of humility and simplicity that one can take as an inspiration to live in a simple life!

The Chief Justice on Impeachment Trial

He is the most powerful man in Philippine Judiciary, the supreme authority when it comes to interpreting law and decisions that matters to the nation. Now, He is on trial for the eight articles of Impeachment submitted by the House of Representatives. Chief Justice Renato Corona is facing the greatest legal battle of his life and the circumstances he's facing would define his position being the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines.

Watch and listen as the senator-judges, the defense and prosecution team showcase their legal thoughts, opinions and matters on the issue hounding the Chief Justice. Live streaming of the impeachment trial is available on this blog.

The Black Nazarene

January 9 is considered to be the feast of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo. Flocked by thousands of devotees, the feast is popularly known to all Filipinos. Devotees of the Black Nazarene believe that the image of Christ carrying the cross can miraculously grant prayers of healing, fortune and other personal intentions. A long procession which usually takes 12 hours to finish will take place at the Quirino Grandstand to the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene taking the traditional route.


This year's theme is "Espiritu ng Ama at ng Poong Nazareno, Sambayanang Pilipino Ibangon Mo", the theme correlates to the recent calamity suffered by some of our brethren in Mindanao and the everyday challenges in the life of the Filipinos. In celebration of the feast of the Black Nazarene, this blogspot will stream live feeds from the Quiapo Church for hourly masses. Highlights will the the Holy Mass officiated by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio G. Tagle, DD on January 9, 2012 at 6:00AM to be followed by the long procession. 

Welcome 2012!

Happy New Year! We welcome the year 2012 with joy and much hope. The year 2012 gives us a brand new hope to make our lives better. As we continue to journey, let us be thankful for all the good things we have received and as the bad ways, we should remove and dump them.


Most of us will have new year's resolution but we pray that each day of this year will serve as an everyday reminder that God is with us and His love endures forever.


Happy 2012 everyone!

Be Christmas!

We are in the most joyful season in our time, Christmas! Everyone awaits for the coming of this day, the rich and the poor, the young and old alike. There's something about Christmas that each one of us cannot resists to celebrate, something so glorious that even the splendor of God showered upon us on the most holy night of all. Christmas is not also something about gift-giving, receiving new stuff, merry-making and feasting. It may sound already as a cliche but Christmas is truly indeed, a giving season. 

Giving is the best gift for all...

Recently we have witnessed the tragic situation of our brethren down south, in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan Cities. caused by typhoon 'Sendong'. Was it really a game of chance? Perhaps God fashioned all these things to happen to give us lessons that we forget at times...forgiveness, compassion and generosity. God wants us to be reminded what truly Christmas is all about and unfortunately, thousands of lives  were perished.  

Christmas this year may not be that grand or extravagant, but it has given us a meaningful way of celebrating Christmas...that is giving our love and compassion to the least of our brethren. Christmas of 2011 imparts us lessons that we should live day by day. On a personal note, I have not celebrated a merrier Christmas this year but I am thankful for the blessings I received from my family and friends. That alone I am thankful to God that I am still enjoying the wonderful gift...the gift of life. Everyday becomes Christmas for me but everyday is a challenge for me and the call beckons on me and for all of us...Be Christmas for others!

Be Christmas for others!

The best gift that we could give to our loved ones and our brethren is to Be Christmas for them. We don't need to become extra generous, but our love alone could truly manifest that Christmas is all about Him, the Lord of love. It is He, who is the reason for this season.

Have a meaningful and blessed Christmas!

The Archbishop of Manila Coat of Arms

The newly installed archbishop of Manila, has chosen the coat of arms (see left photo inset), his motto 'Dominus Est!' or 'It is the Lord!' taken from John 21: 7. Here's a brief explanation of the coat of arms by His Excellency Luis Antonio G. Tagle, DD:

The coat of arms of His Excellency Most Reverend Luis Antonio G. Tagle, Archbishop of Manila, has two sides.  The left side represents the coat of arms of the Archdiocese of Manila.  The right side represents the personal coat of arms of the Archbishop.

On the upper left (red) side, the tower of Castille portrays the Almighty God, He who is called in Psalm 60, “My shelter, a strong tower against the enemy.”  The three windows in the figure of the tower signify the Three Divine Persons.  To its right is aCrescent, the symbol of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, patroness of the Archdiocese of Manila.

On the lower left (blue) side, a sea lionengarde holding a pilgrim’s cross on its right represents the origin of Christianity through the evangelization of the Philippines by the Spaniards and the Philippines’ role in Christianizing the Orient.  Manila played a key role in the development of faith for the whole of the Philippine archipelago.  The sea lion itself is the symbol of the Philippines.

On the right, which represents the coat of arms of the Archbishop, there are three levels.

The top level contains the image of the Good Shepherd.  It tells of the centrality of Jesus in the Episcopal ministry of the Archbishop.  He who directs the catch of fish is also the Shepherd who goes before his sheep (Jn 10:4) and lays down his life for them (Jn 10:15).  The figure also calls to mind the diocesan seminary of Imus, Tahanan ng Mabuting Pastol, that the Archbishop served cumulatively for twenty-two years as rector.

In the top level, there is also an open Bible.  The living Word is the ultimate rule of life and service of the Archbishop.  He pays tribute to all those who taught him to love the Word of God, especially his family, teachers, students, and the poor.  It also stands for his ministry as a theology teacher, a servant of the Word.  But more than just being a teacher of the Word, the Archbishop hopes to live by Jesus, the Incarnate Word, so that through his person and service, many may come to know, love and serve the Living Lord.

On the middle and the bottom levels are symbols of two persons who, upon discerning the will of God, made Jesus the center of their lives.  The middle level depicts the Blessed Virgin Mary,to whom the Archbishop is devoted under her title of Our Lady of the Pillar, patroness of the Cathedral Parish and Diocese of Imus.  The bottom level refers to St. Joseph, the just man and worker, to whom the town of Imus and the Archbishop is devoted.  He is the patron San Jose Seminary where he underwent priestly formation.

The motto of the Archbishop is taken from John 21:7, “It is the Lord” (Dominus Est!).  Following Peter’s initiative, the disciples went fishing but that night caught nothing.  When the risen Lord, unrecognized by them, directed their fishing, they had a bountiful catch.  Thereupon the beloved disciple said, “It is the Lord!”  The motto conveys the Archbishop’s conviction that the Lord must direct his mission.  So he entrusts the care of the Archdiocese to Him.  The Archbishop’s modest role is to discern His voice, to follow his bidding, and to end every fruitful endeavour in a loving prayer and of recognition and adoration of the Lord. (text taken from www.rcam.org)

The New Archbishop of Manila

Today, December 12, 2011 is historic and significant day for the Archdiocese of Manila and on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the installation of the new Archbishop in the person of Luis Antonio G. Tagle, DD, the former bishop of the Diocese of Imus. 

On October 13, Pope Benedict XVI  appointed leading Asian theologian Bishop Luis Antonio Tagle of Imus as Archbishop of Manila.

Fifty-four year-old Bishop Tagle succeeds Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales, 79, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) announced, citing a letter from the Apostolic Nunciature in Manila.

At the time of the appointment, Bishop Tagle, was serving as chairman of CBCP’s Commission on Doctrine of the Faith and chairman of the Office of Theological Concerns of the Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences.

Bishop Tagle was also serving as a member of the International Theological Commission of the Vatican, a body of expert advisers on Church teaching.

His intervention at the October 2008 Synod of Bishops in which he advocated for greater listening by Church leaders placed him on the front pages in Rome.

Cardinal Rosales, who turned 79 last August, had announced he would retire this year and was just waiting for his successor to be named.

The cardinal, who served as Manila’s archbishop for seven years, submitted his resignation in 2007 when he turned 75, the mandatory retirement age for prelates, but the pope had extended his term indefinitely.

Asked of his greatest achievement, Cardinal Rosales cited his encounters with different people, particularly the poor.

“I think it’s having been given the opportunity to get to know the poor more, the good hearted people, the generous people who continuously help the Church. I thank all of them,” he said.

He leaves Manila’s more than 2.7 million Catholics in the pastoral care of Bishop Tagle.

Born in Manila on June 21, 1957, Bishop Tagle, of Filipino-Chinese descent, went to the Jesuit Ateneo De Manila University’s San Jose Major Seminary for diocesan priests. He was ordained a priest on February 27, 1982.

In 1992, he completed his doctorate in Sacred Theology at the Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. Six years later he was appointed as expert at the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for Asia in Rome.

Months before becoming a bishop in 2001, he was assigned by the Vatican Congregation for the Clergy, to participate in a series of video conferences about ongoing formation of priests. (italicized text from http://umatuna.org/tagle-appointed-new-archbishop-of-manila)

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